Convento Santo Antônio was built in the early 17th C and the Capela Dourada (golden chapel) was built largely during the 18th C. The interior of the chapel, with ceiling and wall paintings, is an impressive sight.
A Baroque style Church that was completed in the early 18th Century, the Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceicao dos Militares features beautiful paintings and carvings on the interior.
A striking monument, the Cathedral of Sao Pedro dos Clerigos was built to completion in 1782. The Cathedral features elements of Gothic and Baroque styles on its exterior.
On the coast road (Avenida Alfredo Lisboa) are the Custom House and the Harbor Office. Farther east, a little way inland, is Forte Brum, built by the Dutch in 1629, which now houses the Military Museum.
A little way south-east of the Ponte Maurício de Nassau is the church of the Madre de Deus (1720), with an aisleless nave. The choir chapel has carved woodwork covered with gold leaf.
On the site of the old farm of Sítio da Trindade (Casa Amarela district) there stood in 1630 the Arraial do Bom Jesus, a stronghold of resistance to the Dutch. Various popular festivals are celebrated here in June, August and December.
On the left bank of the Rio Capibaribe is the Boa Vista district. In Rua da Imperatriz is the Igreja Matriz de Boa Vista (1788-1813). In Rua do Hospício is the Archaeological and Geographical Museum of Pernambuco.
The Museum of Pernambuco is on Avenida Rui Barbosa in the Graças district. In the neighboring district of Casa Forte is the Anthropological Museum of the North-East, whose collections include craft products, specimens of literatura de cordel (trivial literature, so called from the cord on which the books were strung up for sale) and Afro-Brazilian cult objects and utensils from the period of slavery.
The Praia do Pina and the celebrated Praia da Boa Viagem are respectively 4km/2.5mi and 5km/3mi from Recife. The latter is famed for its local craft products.
The beaches of Porto de Galinhas, 65km/40mi from Recife, are the finest in Pernambuco state. At low tide jangadas take visitors out to a swimming pool formed in the sea by reefs. Other beaches are Maracaipe (5km/3mi from Porto de Galinhas; good surfing), where there is a fishing village, Cacimbas (48km/30mi), Toco Grande and Pau Alto (52km/32mi).
São José da Coroa Grande (pop. 11,000) lies on the border with Alagoas state, 119km/74mi from Recife. The best beaches are Coroa Grande, Várzea do Una and, in the commune of Barreiros, the Praia do Porto.
At Jaboatão dos Guararapes are the beaches of Candeias and Barra de Jangada, 18km/11mi south of Recife. In the commune of Cabo (35km/22mi) are the Praias de Gaibu, Santo Agostino and Palhetas, once a pirates' lair. Access by BR 101 and PE 060, which branches off it.
Farther south is the commune of Rio Formoso, with Fort Santo Inácio (1646). The most popular beaches are Tamandaré and Carneiros. Here too is the Saltinho nature reserve (548 hectares/1354 acres), established in 1983.
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Convento Santo Antônio
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Recife
